Hey everybody!! Did anybody notice, I start almost all of my chapters with 'hey everybody!' Why is that? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! Lol. Yes, I'm feeling a little…crazy today. But, what's new? I forgot to take my pills!!!

Disclaimer: Has anybody realized how long it's been since I did one of these? You'd think that by now I'd own SOMETHING!!! But…no.

Chapter 24 - Coercion and Conflict

He hadn't moved. He had no idea how long he had been there, splayed out on Grammy's lawn, though that was only the slightest of his dilemmas.

He somehow perceived that he wasn't himself. He felt as if his very essence were poised above his body, observing and scrutinizing--but nothing more. It was as if he had been anesthetized, and his passion for her, his infatuation, his anguish, his resentment, had all been eradicated on the spot, and all that remained was a dull throbbing in his chest.

He saw himself stand after what seemed like an eternity.

He had an indistinct look in his eyes, as if he couldn't see clearly. His eyes were rimmed with a thick line of crimson as he glanced about. His face was drawn into a scowl, and it appeared as if limitless creases had emerged overnight. He looked old and dilapidated as he very slowly made his way back into the house.

"Grammy."

His voice sounded alien to him, like it wasn't his own. It was as if he had sandpaper in his throat. His mouth was suddenly dry, his tongue felt swollen.

He heard her reply from somewhere in the kitchen, but he was certain he wouldn't be able to journey even that far in his present state, so he stumbled over to the worn couch and collapsed onto the soft cushions.

She said something, but his head was spinning so, he could hardly see her face.

"Grammy…" he said once more, straining to see through the foggy haze that clouded his vision.

"I'm here, hon. What is it," she questioned.

"I--I need to know…" he stammered, reaching a hand to stroke her wrinkled face. "I need to know who…who killed her."

"Are you ready?"

He tried to smile at her as they sat in the car. Was he ready? Of course not. He probably would never be ready, but the simple truth was that he had to go through with this.

He reached down to grasp her hand and he felt her give it a reassuring squeeze.

He sighed as he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, examining everything: the long, slender fingers, the creamy white complexion, the small, frail knuckles…

"Vegeta?"

He looked up with a start, the sound of her voice bring him back to reality, and the matter at hand.

She was so beautiful, he realized, as he gazed into her clear sapphire orbs. Her elegant, turquoise locks, her small nose and cute lips, everything about her screamed utter flawlessness. She was truly a rare treasure, indeed.

"Vegeta, we only have 15 minutes until the bell rings. C'mon, let's go in."

Before he could protest she had opened the door and climbed out of the car.

He sighed deeply then seized the door handle and threw it open before he could stop himself. She was already halfway across the parking lot waiting for him.

He paused a moment before strolling over to her and slipping a hand around her waist, and together they entered the crowded hallways. All activity seemed to hesitate for a moment as every eye turned to the couple.

"Austin, honey…I don't think it's wise to tell you. You're still in shock and…you need to go home and get some rest."

He immediately narrowed his eyes and glowered at her, his eyes flickering with a psychotic ferocity that startled the woman, catching her off guard.

She placed a tender hand on his shoulder, trying in vain to calm the raging sea in his mind, but he shoved her hand away and pulled himself into a sitting position.

"Tell me!" he demanded, gripping her arm.

She squeezed her eyes closed as a searing pain shot up her arm. "I--I can't, Austin, I won't put you through that!"

He came to himself for a moment as he released her and turned away. "I…I'm sorry, Grammy…"

She gave him an empathetic look as she placed a wrinkled hand on his shoulder.

His grip on her midsection constricted warily as they leisurely passed through the crowded hallway toward the large horde of teenagers gathering at the end of the hall.

She glanced around fearfully as she pressed her body closer to his. She felt so oddly alien in this place that was so well known to her, almost as if she was completely exposed to these "friends" of hers.

They finally verged upon the large gathering. There was a chorus of gasps as they all took in the sight of the twosome--no one was expecting this!

"Bulma, Vegeta, this is certainly a…surprise!"

Courtney's exuberance seemed out of place in the awkward atmosphere.

Chichi and 18 stepped forward, finally, and encompassed Bulma in a hug.

"Hey, B, looks like you two are back together," 18 whispered, nudging Bulma in the ribs.

Bulma couldn't help but smile and giggle.

She glanced up at Vegeta, surprised to see the grim scowl on his face as he stared at Goku.

"We have to go, Chi, 18," Bulma said quickly as she tugged on Vegeta's arm, trying unsuccessfully to budge him. She certainly didn't need him fighting with Goku, not now.

"You were waiting for this, weren't you, Kakkarot?"

Vegeta spat the other man's name with barely obscured loathing lurking underneath.

"Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed, horrified that he would say such a thing to his friend of many years. How could he be so cruel?

Goku smirked, narrowing his eyes at Vegeta as he pulled Chichi to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her.

"You just can't stand the fact I'm better than you."

"Goku!" It was Chichi's turn to look dismayed at her boyfriend's words. That was definitely uncalled for!

"You were never better than me. You never will be."

"Then why are you so upset?"

Bulma shot Chichi a distressed look, which she returned, equally embarrassed and enraged.

"I'm pissed off because you practically pushed me out of the way for my position." Vegeta clenched his fist at his side, trying to restrain from jumping on the man and punching his lights out.

"You got kicked off the team, remember?"

Bulma was horrified. She had never seen Goku looking so smug and conceited. That was Vegeta's job!

"And let me guess, you had nothing to do with that, now did you?"

Goku tried to step forward, but Chichi held him back.

The remaining teenagers, seeing the likely prospect of a fight formed a circle around the two males and started chanting, "Fight, fight, fight!"

"No, Vegeta, I didn't have anything to do with that. It was your own carelessness and stupidity that got you kicked off the team."

"My carelessness?" Vegeta roared. "In case you didn't know, they proved that I didn't do it! But I never thought you, of all people, would be the one to take my place. You just couldn't wait for the chance to be the star, could you?"

"You're right, Vegeta. I did want to know what it felt like to be the star, we all did."

And with that, Goku snatched Chichi's hand and practically dragged her away.

Vegeta glared after them for a moment before grabbing Bulma's hand and pulling her down the opposite hall. She struggled to free herself, but his firm grip held her.

He winced slightly as the warm liquid slid down his throat, soothing the ache. Too bad there wasn't a tea that would heal his heart.

"How's that?"

He glanced up at Grammy. She was such a sweet woman.

"A little better," he mumbled. "I just…I feel so…guilty."

"Whatever for? What happened wasn't your fault, hon."

He turned his face away as a single tear slid down his cheek. "You don't understand, Grammy! It was my fault!"

She reached out to take his hand, stroking the back of it with her own soft ones. "No, Austin…there was nothing you could've done. There was nothing any of us could've done--"

"No, Grammy, that's not it!" He exclaimed, snatching his hand back. He sighed, "…The last time I talked to her we had an argument. I…I told her I hated her, and that I never wanted to see her again, and then I stormed out, and now…I never will see her again."

She couldn't help the look of compassion that overtook her features. She had no idea the news would influence him so! She never should've told him. This was all her fault!

Bulma stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom fixing her hair, her phone propped in between her shoulder and her ear.

"I'm so sorry, Chi, I really didn't mean for that to happen! I just--I had no idea he was going to say that, and--"

"It's okay, B. I know, it wasn't your fault, and plus--Goku could've been a little nicer, too."

Bulma sighed as she took in her reflection. She was dressed only in some short shorts and a cute tee that showed off her midriff.

"I'm just glad we're still friends, Chi. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Yeah, me too." Chichi replied. "Hey, I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

Bulma clicked off the phone, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and stalked into the bedroom.

"Vegeta, I still cannot believe you did that!" she exclaimed as she crossed her arms and glared at her boyfriend.

He rolled his eyes and 'hmphed' mimicking her as he sat on the bed. She decided to try a different approach.

"Vegeta," she cooed, stealing to the bed and climbing on his lap, "why can't you just be nice?"

She let her arms snake their way up his chest and rest on his shoulders as she tipped her head to the side, searching his eyes.

"He's always been out to get me," Vegeta replied with a glare.

She rolled her eyes, "Vegeta…nobody is out to get you! It's all in your head!"

"You don't understand!" He snapped.

She let out an exasperated sigh and stood, stalking away from him. "You're right, Vegeta, I don't understand."

"Grammy…tell me."

She sighed, he'd been at her for at least half an hour already, demanding she tell him, but…she couldn't! Not after she saw what she had already done to him!

"No, Austin, I won't!"

"Grammy, please! I have to know!"

Her patience was wearing thin, now. She was tired, she had a headache, and she desperately needed a foot massage.

"Fine, Austin…I'll tell you."

She saw his eyes light up for a moment, like a little child on Christmas morning.

"The police said it was a drunk driver, you probably know him."

"Who is it?!"

"His name is…Vegeta."

She saw a look of utter shock cross his face before another look that she couldn't quite place.

Without another word, he rose from the couch and walked out the door.

She sighed again as she heard him start the engine of his car and drive off. She shouldn't have told him.

She felt a little guilty, but she had to do what had to be done.

She was startled out of her thoughts as the phone rang. She picked it up with a shaky hand. "Y--yes?"

"Did you do it?"

She cast a longing look out the window and said, "Yes. I did it. I hope you're happy!"

There was a malicious laugh on the other end before the dial tone.

"Vegeta, c'mon!" Bulma called up the stairs. She heard his incoherent mumbling before she saw him ambling down the stairs.

He stood before her with a bored look on his face. "Woman, I'm not--"

"Vegeta, please, just do this one thing for me." She kissed him lightly before dashing into the kitchen.

He glanced after her, before mumbling something about 'women' and throwing the door open.

"What, Kakkarot," he asked, uninterested.

Goku sighed and scratched behind his head, "Look, Vegeta, I'm…I'm sorry. Bulma said she talked to Chichi, and, well…I was wrong to talk to you like that. I don't know what got into me, I just…I felt like…I don't know, I just…it's complicated. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Whatever," Vegeta sneered.

They both heard Bulma's voice from somewhere in the kitchen, "That mean's he's sorry, too!"

Goku laughed and smiled, "Well, I guess I'll see you later, Vegeta."

Vegeta closed the door and turned to find Bulma standing behind him, a blissful smile on her face.

"Aww…Vegeta, that was so sweet!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. She absentmindedly thought to herself how much she had changed him.

"I'm leaving, woman. I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaned down to place a passionate kiss on her lips before turning and walking out the door.

Bulma watched his car until he turned a corner and was hidden from her view. She let out a dreamy sigh and danced up to her room.

She glanced up as she heard the door open, then slam.

She walked into the living room slowly, not quite knowing what to expect.

"Austin?"

He whirled around, and she gasped at his appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept in days; his hair was wild and unruly, his eyes bloodshot. But the look in his eyes…it scared her.

"Where is he," he seethed.

"What are you talking about?"

"WHERE IS HE?!"

She glanced about the room, searching for a possible way out should she need it.

"I--I don't know what you're talking about."

He was in front of her in a moment, grasping her shoulders and shaking her violently. "Where the hell is he?!"

She let out a frightened cry as he dug his fingers into her soft flesh. "Oww! Austin you're hurting me!"

He released her, but didn't move. "Where is Vegeta," he breathed, slowly.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him all day," she lied.

"Tell me the moment you find him," Austin snapped before stalking out of the house, slamming the door after him.

Bulma dashed up the stairs as soon as he was out of sight and hit the speed dial on her cell phone.

"What now, woman?"

Her eyes darted around the room, as if she expected Austin to jump out at any moment.

"Vegeta…Austin just came by, and he was looking for you, and he had this weird looking his eyes, like…I--I think he's going to kill you! Oh, Vegeta! Don't die! You can't die!" She rambled on and on and he eventually had her start over.

"What are you going to do?" She questioned.

She could tell he was smirking. "Nothing."

"Vegeta! This is not the time to be getting all big headed…!"

"Don't worry, woman. I'll be fine." He replied.

You guys, I am so sorry it took so long for this chapter. It's been what, three weeks? I didn't mean for it to take this long, I mean, I started like three days ago, but…yeah. I really was going to update this last week, but FFN!! AHHH I HATE IT!! Oh well, Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!!